DEPARTMENT: Transportation and Capital Improvements
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Mike Frisbie
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Amendment: Traffic Code Update
SUMMARY:
An ordinance amending the approved list of traffic control devices (Traffic Control Devices Schedules) for the City of San Antonio, established in Chapter 19, Section 68 of the City Code, to add locations where new installations of traffic control devices (speed limit signs) have occurred and remove locations where signs have been altered or removed.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On January 30, 2013, District 7 Councilman Cris Medina submitted the Safe Streets Council Consideration Request (CCR) for staff to research and recommend measures to address speeding along residential streets and areas with high pedestrian activities.
In response to the CCR, the Transportation & Capital Improvements (TCI) Department has initiated a pilot program to evaluate the effectiveness of reducing speed limits as a mechanism for improving traffic safety in residential areas. In the State of Texas, the lawful speed limit on all urban streets is 30 miles per hour (mph). However, local governments may reduce the speed limit to 25 mph without conducting a traffic engineering study but are required to provide the State a report on each segment of roadway where the speed limit is being reduced. This report must include the number of speeding citations issued under the existing speed, the number of warnings issued for speeding and number of accidents due to speeding that resulted in injury or death for the past two years.
Neighborhoods were selected to participate in this pilot program based on the following criteria:
· Historical 311 concerns regarding speeding through the neighborhood
· Recommendations from the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD)
· Neighborhood association and/or citizens requests
· Locations that have controlled (limited) access points where it is easy to clearly delineate speed reduction areas
Ten neighborhoods were selected to participate in this pilot program. These include:
Neighborhood Council District
1) Dell Crest 2
2) Oak Creek 4
3) North San Antonio Hills 6
4) Oak Creek 6
5) Autumn Ridge 7
6) Woodlawn Lake Area 7
7) Oakland Estates 8
8) Red Robins/Hillsdale 8
9) Shenandoah 8
10) Encino Bluff/Vistas of Encino 9
In order to asses the effectiveness of reducing the speed limits, "before" traffic data was collected from October 2013 to January 2014. The new speed limit signs were installed in late January 2014 and staff will be collecting "after" traffic data from April to the end of May. The traffic data will then be analyzed to determine if the speed reduction pilot program was effective.
ISSUE:
An ordinance amending the approved list of traffic control devices (Traffic Control Devices Schedules) for the City of San Antonio, established in Chapter 19, Section 68 of the City Code of Ordinances. In order to have effective enforcement, all traffic control devices (speed limit signs) need to be present on these schedules (lists). The last traffic code update was enacted on November 21, 2013. Types of traffic control devices included in this update are related to speed limit designations.
Specific Title included in this update is:
§ Maximum Speed Limit - (67 locations) [Schedule E(a)]
Approval of this ordinance will enable the enforcement of the new speed limits in these 10 neighborhoods.
ALTERNATIVES:
Not updating the Traffic Control Devices Schedules would result in the City of San Antonio Police Department's inability to enforce the traffic control devices at the locations listed in the attachment.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this ordinance. The cost to replace speed limit signs is included within TCI's General Fund funded portion of its FY 2014 Budget.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this ordinance to amend the Traffic Control Devices Schedules for the City of San Antonio in Chapter 19, Section 68 of the City Code.